49ers Leaving San Francisco - or just posturing?

Just heard on ESPN Radio that the 49ers have ended negotiations with the city for a new stadium. Supposedly, they are going to move to Santa Clara or L.A. (Would the Santa Clara move have anything to do with the A's stadium in Fremont?)

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — The San Francisco 49ers ended negotiations with the city about building a new stadium and plan to move to either Santa Clara or somewhere else in California, The Associated Press learned Wednesday night.
Owner John York notified Mayor Gavin Newsom of the team’s decision earlier Wednesday, a city official close to the negotiations told The AP on condition of anonymity because no announcement had been made.
Team spokesman Aaron Salkin declined to comment Wednesday night.
The sides had been talking over the last few months about building a privately financed stadium at Candlestick Point that was going to be part of the city’s bid for the 2016 summer Olympics.

Wicked - You got that right. The York's run the 'Niners like it's just another business, pinching every penny. But the responsibility for this situation falls squarely on Eddie DeBartolo himself: If he doesn't get convicted of a felony and squander a substantial amount of his fortune at around the same time, he still owns the team. Guy just didn't keep himself in check, so sister and hubby York scoop up the team.

It was embarrassing to see Michael Silver (who owes his Sports Illustrated job to covering the Super Bowl - era 'Niners) shilling for Debartolo about 4 months ago, saying how DeBartolo was but a 'minor' felon, and how he really should be able to reacquire the 49'ers, or that if he doesn't do that, he might even purchase the Raiders. Real slumming stuff for Silver, playing DeBartolo's "Trial Balloon" boy. Not one of his finer moments. But Silver had either just come back from, or was just about to attend, a 49'ers Super Bowl teams' reunion, and he had to pay his DeBartolo fealty tax, so he did his duty.

Idaho - Totally agree. Brutal stadium. Not sure if it was worse for baseball or football. I remember seeing a MLB game there in the middle of summer in the 80's and I thought I was going to get frostbite.

I think the league and a new commissioner eager to make his mark will be looking very hard at this. I wouldn't be surprised to see Al Davis try to get in on it too, and offer to move Oakland back to LA and have San Fran do something in Santa Clara. This is going to get very interesting.

BYH - Columbo would care, as would Berman. Other than that, maybe a couple of bored and hungry seagulls. The Raiders, who don't look as bad having another embarrassing team in the general vicinity to hide their own ineptness?